Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 5
Derivation
Uddhāra) of the Sakalādi Mantra (सकलादिमन्त्रोद्धारः
एकनेत्रो द्विनेत्रश् च त्रिशिखो दीर्घबाहुकः एकपादर्धचन्द्रश् च बलपो योगिनीप्रियः
ekanetro dvinetraś ca triśikho dīrghabāhukaḥ ekapādardhacandraś ca balapo yoginīpriyaḥ
તે એકનેત્ર અને દ્વિનેત્ર પણ છે; ત્રિશિખ (ત્રણ શિખાવાળો), દીર્ઘબાહુ છે; એકપાદ, અર્ધચંદ્ર ધારણ કરનાર; બલવાન અને યોગિનીઓનો પ્રિય છે।
Lord Agni (narrating) to the sage Vasiṣṭha
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Provides dhyāna/arcana-ready descriptors for Rudra-Śiva forms (eyes, crest, arms, pāda, ardhacandra), useful for iconography, visualization, and mantra-linked worship.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Rudra-Śiva dhyāna-lakṣaṇa: eyes, crest, limbs, ardhacandra, yoginī-priya","lookup_keywords":["ekanetra","dvinetra","triśikha","dīrghabāhu","ardhacandra"],"quick_summary":"A compact iconographic-dhyāna profile of Śiva/Rudra emphasizing variable eye-forms, three-crested mark, long arms, one-footed aspect, crescent moon, strength, and affinity with Yoginīs."}
Alamkara Type: Viśeṣaṇa-saṅghāta (clustered epithets)
Concept: Form as a vehicle of realization: precise dhyāna-lakṣaṇa stabilizes mind, enabling mantra to ‘take shape’ as iṣṭa-devatā.
Application: Before japa or pūjā, visualize these lakṣaṇas sequentially (eyes → crest → arms → foot → crescent → śakti-circle of yoginīs) to deepen ekāgratā.
Khanda Section: Isana-kalpa / Rudra-Shiva Nama-Varnana (Tantric-ritual epithets and iconographic descriptors)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A dynamic Rudra-Śiva form with long arms, crescent moon in matted hair, a three-crested topknot/crest, shown in variant emphasis of one eye or two eyes, standing in an ekapāda stance, surrounded by Yoginīs in a protective circle.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, fierce yet auspicious Śiva with crescent and triśikha, elongated arms, ekapāda stance, ring of Yoginīs with stylized faces, deep reds/ochres, bold outlines, temple-mural composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, majestic Śiva with gold-leaf halo, crescent highlighted in silver-gold, long arms with ornaments, ekapāda pose on lotus pedestal, Yoginīs as small attendant figures, heavy jewelry and embossed details.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, refined dhyāna illustration: clear depiction of triśikha, crescent, eye-variant (one-eye emphasis), proportionate long arms, Yoginī circle lightly indicated, soft colors and fine brushwork.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, Śiva in a forest clearing with crescent and topknot, ekapāda stance, Yoginīs as elegant attendants, intricate textiles and jewelry, delicate shading, ornate border."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ekanetro → ekanetraḥ; dvinetraś → dvinetraḥ ca; ekapādardhacandraś → ekapādardhacandraḥ ca
Related Themes: Agni Purana Śiva-dhyāna/stotra and liṅga/arcana sections; Agni Purana 316 (Śaiva mantra context)
FAQs
It provides dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (meditative identifiers) of Rudra–Śiva used in pūjā and mantra-japa contexts—epithets that fix the deity’s form and powers (e.g., crescent emblem, Yoginī affiliation).
Beyond narrative, the Agni Purana preserves practical ritual-technology: name-lists, iconographic markers, and tantric associations (Yoginīs), functioning like a reference manual for worship, visualization, and temple/household devotion.
Reciting and contemplating these epithets is treated as a purifying remembrance (smaraṇa) that stabilizes devotion and aligns the practitioner with Śiva’s protective and transformative power, traditionally yielding merit and removal of obstacles.